December 2022 Guitar Newsletter: Ask Questions And Receive Answers!
Interested in guitar lessons? Click here to sign up. I look forward to hearing from you!
I like to start off every guitar lesson by asking my students: “Do you have questions on anything?” As any teacher should, I thrive off of student curiosity and try to offer solid answers. These occasions are also opportunities for problem solving. Learning how to play an instrument, reading music well or understanding music theory requires these skills. Rehearsing for a concert, playing live or recording in a studio is intertwined with the art of communal problem solving and the ability to interact favorably with other musicians. Nobody comes out of the gate knowing everything or figures it all out all on their own. It is a lifelong journey of gathering information, accumulating experience, and talking to people.
Asking questions, researching and solving problems can also lead to enriching, unexpected outcomes. Just recently, I listened to the late, pristine flatpicker Tony Rice (June 8, 1951-December 25, 2020) and was mesmerized by his album “California Autumn." I didn’t initially set out to listen to the whole album, but it sucked me in. Not only is the musicianship of this stellar bluegrass lineup stunning, but also, I equally appreciated the overall sound of this acoustic album recorded in 1975. Who was behind the mixing board and setting up of microphones to create such a warm, lively and wide, three-dimensional sound? I came across John Starling and a recording engineer named George Massenburg, who at 28, was just in the beginning stages of an incredible career in the music recording industry.
Massenburg, an engineer at heart, not only contributed to recording hundreds of albums (discography), but has also invented recording technology (George Massenburg Labs), and in addition, helped design a one of a kind modern recording studio called Blackbird Studio in Nashville.
Dare I say that folks in the recording industry are among the best problem solvers on the planet? The next time you listen to your favorite song, take a moment and imagine all the factors that had to be evaluated to make that recording happen. From choosing the ideal microphones to place in front of amplifiers, to what musicians should be part of the project, to deciding what songs make it on the album, hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions have to be made and equally as many problems solved along the way.
Asking questions is a good thing. Not only are you likely to get useful answers but you will enrich the person on the other end as well. Teachers especially are not only around to share their knowledge, but they are there to be drilled with questions from their field. It is a win-win situation. Get past any reason you might be afraid to ask questions. It’s OK not to know everything, and daring to ask questions is an act of courage and a sign of humility. Neither of those are bad traits!
I feel blessed to find myself exploring Massenburg’s massive work as a producer because of the questions I asked. Here is a link to an album simply titled "Trio", a collaboration of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Produced by George in 1987, it not only captures the forceful voice of Linda, who he has worked with extensively, but also features many top of the list guitar players such as Albert Lee, David Lindley and Ry Cooder! Linda, a strong advocate for the arts in America, also wrote a biography. I can't wait to read it!
“In the United States we seen millions of dollars on sports because it promotes teamwork, discipline, and the experience of learning to make great progress in small increments. Learning to play music together does all this and more.”
—Congressional testimony from Linda Ronstadt
Fittingly to the month of December, I am including a link to Linda’s “A Merry Little Christmas” album, which was produced, recorded and mixed in the year 2000 with the help of…yup, you guessed it, George Massenburg!
Wishing you a cheerful holiday season and time to ask lots of questions,
Chris
